What my life as a teacher, after college, will look like is an idea I've contemplated very frequently, especially within the last year. In many ways this will depend on the school where I teach and the duties that are required of me there, or the responsibilities I take on. I think the timeline presented by a teacher at the beginning of the chapter is probably a pretty accurate one. I'm sure that the first few years I might be struggling to keep my head above water, mostly getting used to the life as a teacher, doing paperwork, writing lessons, etc. It won't be until I am comfortable in this lifestyle and have some experience that I can really start to examine my techniques and improve them or try new things. I hope that I will never become stagnant and simply pull out the same lessons year after year, but instead use those as a basis to reflect on what did or didn't work, and what I should change or could try to mix things up. I also know I'm going to have to try to draw a line between work (school) and home. If I don't allow myself to forget about stress at work, even if it relates to students, I'll probably lose my mind and get burnt out. Of course teachers should create relationships with students and parents, but to try and make every struggling student your personal project is unrealistic. I plan to do whatever I can in my power to help my students in my classroom and at school, but if I make everyone else's problems my own I will likely get bogged down and depressed. I'll accept small victories and do my best.
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